Let me stress this first: due dates are mandatory. You must complete every step in order, and you must get approval from me before moving on to the next step. That means if you have not gotten your outline checked and approved, you may not start your rough draft. This is to assure that I get a quality piece of work (and you get a good grade) when this is all said and done.
Over Spring Break
You need to pick and read a selection from an epic of your choosing. You can pick a selection from Paradise Lost or Metamorphoses. You can also read part of one of Dante's other books. You can read "The Rape of the Lock." You can read the Argonautica. There's a bunch of choices.
You need to read a sizeable portion as a basis for your research paper. Somewhere around 100 pages worth of reading.
Due Thursday 4/5
A tentative thesis statement. By now you need to have your topic pretty firmly in mind and a solid idea of what your argument will be.
Due Monday 4/16
Your outline is due. I won't be collecting these, but I will be having individual conferences with each of you.
Due Monday 4/23
A complete first draft is due. That means a full 10 pages with an accurate and complete works cited page.
Due 5/4
Your final draft
Week of 5/7
Presentations.